Power door locking system



Sept. 22, 1959 '.1. B. GAIDA POWER DooR LOCKING SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept 22, 1959 J. B. GAIDA 2,904,988

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United States Patent POWER DOOR LOCKING SYSTEM Joseph B. Gaida, St. Cloud, Minn.

Application August 8, 1955, Serial No. 527,090

3 Claims. (Cl. 70-264) This invention relates to a power door locking system for controlling the locking and unlocking of a plurality of doors such as in a motor vehicle.

It is an object of my invention to provide an electrically operated power system whereby all doors of a motor vehicle or analogous multiple door equipment may be simultaneously locked or unlocked through the operation of one or more master switches conveniently located for turning or operation from without the car and preferably including a master switch within the car accessible to the driver. Y

A further object is the provision of a locking system of the class described wherein the operation of one or preferably both of the key-controlled shafts from the outside of the vehicle (drivers side or passengers side) controls with a turn in one direction, the locking of all of the car doors and with a turn in the opposite direction, controls` and actuates the unlocking of all the doors.

Another object is to provide such a system which coacts with the conventional door locks and latches of most vehicles to enable any or all of the doors to be individually locked or unlocked from the inside of the car by the push-pull rods or the like, but which nevertheless regardless of the number of doors in the car which are manually locked or unlocked, will immediately elect the locking of all doors or the unlocking of all doors through master control mechanism and the employment of novel combined electrical motors and linkage.

. It is a still further object to provide a power system of the class described wherein all electrical mechanisms employed are normally fle-energized, thus preventing drain upon the vehicle battery and Where if the battery is dead, any and all doors may be lockedor unlocked mechanically as is `accomplished at the present time in motor vehicles, this feature being also important in cases of accident when doors might be jammed or power locks become damaged.

Another object is the provision of such a .power door lock system which enables all doors of a motor vehicle to be locked or unlocked with a key on at least one exterior side or" the vehicle and which further enables the driver from within the vehicle to lock or unlock all doors simultaneously by operation of an accessible master switch.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and in which: Fig. l is a somewhat diagrammatical View illustrating an embodiment of my invention as applied to the doors and conventional door locks and latches of a Well known type of pleasure automobile, the outline and certain portions of the front and rear `doors and intermediate post being shown in dotted lines;

`1`-l`Fig. 2 is a `side `elevation on a larger scale of` one of the conventional forward door latching and locking mechicc anism with the upper portion of my power operated linkage operatively installed and the latch and locking means shown in the unlocked position;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the same taken approximately along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detail, partial rear elevation showing the lost motion connection and linkage of one of my actuating mechanisms with an electrical motor;

Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing a simple and eiective key-controlled switch for exterior operation of the system from one of the key barrels and shafts located in a conventional position either at the passengers or drivers side of the vehicle;

Fig. 6 is a detail side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 4 with a portion of the driven gear being broken away and shown in section and illustrating the abutment means for stopping the motor both inthe door locking and door unlocking operation; and

Fig. 7 is an electrical diagram illustrating an embodiment of my complete circuit wherein master control through relays and selectively through either of the external key-controlled shafts at passenger side or driver side of the vehicle or from a switch accessible to the driver which will control unlocking or locking of all doors simultaneously.

In the embodiment of my power door locking system illustrated, conventional door lock or latch mechanism of manual, push-pull type for the four doors of a pleasure automotive vehicle combine with and form a part of my invention. The said door latch mechanism for the four doors of the vehicle as illustrated, are of the type utilized in the more expensive car models manufactured by Studebaker-Packard Corporation at the present time and as have been manufactured by Packard Motor Car Company during the years 1953 and 1954. A number of other well known makes of motor vehicles such as those made by General Motors Corporation and sold as Buick, and Chevrolet and also, most of the cars manufactured by Ford Motor Company utilize generally similar doorlatch or locking mechanism.

As shown in Fig. l, a front door latch mechanism FD is applied to the front drivers door D-l adjacent the rear and free edge thereof mounted between the outer metal door side and the inner door panel and affixed to the heavy metal flange at the free edge while a generally similar latch mechanism R-D is conventionally secured adjacent the rear and free edge of the rear left door. It will be understood that similar right hand door latch mechanisms (not shown) are secured in conventional manner to the front and rear doors of the vehicle at the passengers side.

The conventional door latch mechanisms for front and rear doors of the type illustrated are substantially identi# cal with the exception of connection of the push-pull rod" and similar and corresponding parts of front` and rear In each of said latch mechanisms, a vertically disposed,`

mechanisms will be therefore `similarly numbered.

angle mounting plate 10 is employed having an outer flange or web 10a which is secured in parallel relationship,y

within the door panel to the outer door frame or metal and this web has shiftably allixed thereto several working elements to be described. Plate 10 also has the perpendicular or angled wider flange 10b of more or less trian-` gular configuration as shown in Fig.`3 and extending substantially ilush with the free edge of the door and senaled in the flange 11b and also in an internal bearing afforded a shelll housing' 1-2 whichlshields the lower l portion of the latch roller. At the inner side ot ange b a ratchet wheel 13 is aiixed to stub shaft 11, said ratchet being normally engaged by the tooth 14a of a leven pawll luf-l'.` Said p'awli' isnte'rmediatelyt pivoted2 in` flange'l'. of: the: mounting plate a4 shot-tf distance above stub shaft 11. Pawl 14 isurged. downwardlyat its rear end: into; engagement; with. ratchet 1i3 by.' thefree end' of a rather heavy torsiont spring 151 An elongated pushl actuated release lever 1161 is also intermediat'ely pivoted to: the: rear.' ange: 10b. of the mounting plate havin-g anA upstanding arm 16m which is: perpendicularly flangedat; one; longitudinal edge.y 16band:v which flange is'` provided a-.rectan'gulan opening 16C. to: accommodatel the inner end: of the conventional: keyrbar` la7.. Release'- lever I6* anielongated,4 lower; end; provided with a1 turn. or-l hook' 16d which underlies the inner' and diminished andi 1451 oli the leven'pawlrfor elevating: the: same. to release ratchet engagement.A Release; levery 16 isurgedl in thef directiow ofz the; door; pane'li hy' suitable means. such as: atorsion: spring. 18; (fseeligl. Pil.. 'EheY release` lever has. a third and shorter arm 16e which serveszas atlock-ing abutment when; the: appropriate.'- push-pulh rod, is` depressed as. will laten'he explainedi detail..

A conventional key' barrel@ (not. shown) is. secured to: therouter, metal por-tion. of' the; door at a level aligned? with the: upper rear cnrnenofr the liange. like of.' the` lockr-V ing plate and. the rotating portion ofi' the: barrel: in which the key lits is ilexibly connected to thekeyeoperated bar` H; which'` snugly: fits into.` a slot;19`af on. ar shift arma 19 which; is. pivoted uporr the:V rear,y upper' corner:l ofi thea flange: 1:0@ of. the plate; The' foiwanl` and: diininishedg. nounded4 end: 19h-'ofi said shift: arm interdite Within. a. transverse channel' 2.0) formed in; ther upper end'. of; an; elongated, vertical* shift bar 2.0i which. is; mounted. for: limited' vertical shifting. upoir the appropriate, facie; of. platev flange l-tlar having. adjacent, its ends vertical slots. h and. zoawhich. accommodate.I headed; pins 21 afxedi. to the. plate.. Thus; upwardi swinging oi: the: forwards end19b; of the shift. arm 19` lifts the.I vertical shift.l baalt); fromY the position shown inf Figs.. Z and therebyV inter-l posing a1. transverse:` abut-ment, corrugationf. orv channel. 20d. against the forward. abutment. endl of: the, azrro; 16er of the release lever.

u 'Iiheupper end 1Gb. ot the; release lever 1.62 is. connected with theV release. huttorn or handle onv the` exterior' oir the: door inconventional manner (not. shownj..

, A: bell; crank lever v22. is pivoted intermediatelyI of plate, ange 1(32- lying substantially in a'. plane.` paralleli therewithl adjacent the forward' edge.- thereof.' which.` has.I a'. generallyi horizontal arm 22aoverlying, the forward endof leverc pawl 1f42 for releasingy the. pawl, the other: 221:Y of said bell, crank extending downwardly and. being. in the conventional. manner., connected by'ailinlc. 23 with a short arm 24 affixed to the shaftr withinY the door which shaft is: controlled by` upward swinging of ahandlememberH. (See Fig. 1..)

A push-rod-shiftfarmV 25. isiutermediately-V pivoted; arl-- jacent the forward edge andv some; distance below the upper' end: of. plate' flange. 10a having a diminished. rounded lift end` 25a which. projects within. the channel 20d to elevate. the vertical shift bar 20 when the; forward; door push-pullrod 26'is. depressed andto lower the shift. bar. when rod 26is raised. Arr-1.25- isused in the front door latch. mechanism- FD: since. theY push rock 26 is conveniently located adjacent. the rear edge of the` door, but a.slightly. diierent mechanism. (see Eig; 1) is used for the rear: door to. shift, the; rear, door vertical shift plate 2.0l through manual operation of the push-pull rod 27.-.. In the. rear doors, a'V bell' crank lever 28' is employed hav ing an. upwardly extending arm 28a; whichK is interconnected: with a. forwardly extending" linkf. 29 with: a bell. crank lever 30. pivoted. within the door structure near iorward hinged: edge thereof, said bell.. crank lever 4. turn connected with the lower end of the guided rear door push' rod 27. TheA bell crank lever 2o for therear door latch mechanism has a rearwardly extending, diminished lift arm 28h corresponding to lift arm 25a of the front door mechanism which engages the abutment `channel 20d of the vertical shift bar for the rear latch.

The previously described mechanisms and cooperating parts are all conventionalandtstandard for the high priced Parkard cars. referred to and in general.. are common to the other nrotor vehicles previously enumerated and in combination and? coractionwith n1e.chanism, l have added, constitute part of my power door locking system.

I providefor-eachdoor'latch-mechanisrn, a smallE electrical power sourc.e preferably inl the form of a splitphase, reversible electric motor M concealed and mounted within the lower portion of the door structure and operatively connected with the appropriate push` pull shift arms or levers (25 and 28 respectively for front andrcar-d'oors); said connection making provision for limiting lost' motion through linkage and slot and pin connections hereinafter` to be explainedI in' detail. The motors M as' shown, are mounted in each instance on narrow' strap-pedestals 31 forl the front doors and- 32" for the rear doors, having as shown, their power takeoff' shaftsh 38 extended rearwardlyi withv smallgears 33a aliixedthereto; The rear` endd of' the motor case inv each' instance is` provided' as shown, with a block 3.4 inwhici'r a stub shaft' 35 carrying a larger gear 35m is journaled;y said gear in each instance being meshed withv the smalll gear 33hy on` the motor take-oif shaft; Each of the gears 35a is-provided as sli-own, with an arcuate slot 3'5b' disposedz a short' distance inwardlyA of its periphery` and exe tending coneentrically of thel gearand of" an overallJ length1 toprovide. substantially a` quarter turn lost mo tion connection= with the lower connecting rod" collar' 36h' (see Figs. 4 and 6)'I of an elongated, upwardly4 extend-- ingf connecting rodi 36 Connecting rod` 361 has al turn buckle 37 interposed intermediatel'y thereof toy facilitate longitudinali adjustment andi has its lower end turned to-pass through the associated collar 36a and' to` also accommodat'e external spacing washers 3'6b which retain' collar 36ain position and' are in` turn retained by' suitablemeans: such as Cotter pins- 38?. The respective con-- necting rods` 361 are oftenv driven (unless one or more of the push rods 26 are manu'allyf operated) after an; initial impetus is` developed' byl the motors due tothe said lostmotion connection through arcuate slots 35b witlr the inturned lower endsY of'f the linksl 36; Under circumstances, as a. result of certain relative positions oh theA slot; S'Slzof gearsy 35a. and rods 36, subsequent tof manual ope-ration: ofv the,l rods', the Sarnea-re. driven imnrediatelyas. the motors. are energized thereby indicating the: desirability' on employing motors suicient in power to; handle sucln circumstances.. Thesaid lost motion con nections always, after power operation of therods, permit manual; operation. ofL the: conventional push rod:` without requiring the turning: of the arri-iatures of4 the motors.V The upper; ends of. thev respective: connecting rods36 are 1 turned.' and the;` rod for: the front door at the. turned end havinglaforwardly extending; arm. 3t0rzv which is. in 75 connects: with the-forwardaarrn of; the. push rod` shift arm` 25- while.- ther upper turned endl of; the connecting, rod 36` for the rear doors connect with the forward endof* ani arm 28e' of: the. push rod. hell. crank lever.` 28,. said arm 28o. having beenf weldedr orl otherwise rigidly secured; to the,l upstanding of the bell crank lever Z8:- supplied' byfthe.A conventional latch mechanism RD.v

To limit upward. ande downward; movement of each-'oft the;- connecting rods 36: and likewise. tov stop operation of the. associated motor M` at appropriate partial revolna tions, I have provided. an. abutment means for the inf turnedlower ends, of connecting rods. 36 (see Figs'. 4 and. 6), as. shown inthe formV of a vertically mounted plate 39 having a Vertical, straight edge 39a. which-v acts. as the, abutment for both. upward` andV downward strokes oft the connecting rods..

Motors M for locking and unlocking the several door latch mechanisms are preferably supplied with electrical energy from the storage battery of the motor vehicle and may be of any reversing D.C. type, as shown, having two windings for the purpose of effecting reversal of operation. All motors it will be noted, may be longitudinally adjusted on their pcdestals 31, thereby making provision for various positioning in the installations for proper connection of rods 36`with the respective levers- 25 and 28C of the door latch mechanisms.

As shown, two electrical circuits are employed, each controllable by a plurality of master switches whereby any one of said master switches in one position closes the circuit to all motors to simultaneously revolve through a limited number of revolutions in one direction and whereby when any one of said switches is moved to another position, the second circuit is closed through all of said motors causing them to operate for a limited number of revolutions in the reverse direction.

It will of course be understood that my invention is not limited to the three master switches illustrated although I prefer to control power locking and unlocking of all doors through operation of the conventional key barrel at the drivers side of the vehicle as well as at the passenger side of the vehicle and in addition, to perform the same control through a third master switch located on the instrument panel or other place conveniently accessible tothe driver. I have provided a simple but highly eicient two-way rotary switch for cooperation with the conventional key-barrel and keyactuated bar utilized by most motor cars.

To this end as shown in detail in Fig. 5, I provide a dielectric central contact-carrying plate 4llhaving a central circular aperture 40a of a diameter somewhat larger than the width of the key bar 17. Three circumferentially spaced, arcuate metal contacts 41, 42 and 43 are inset in plate 40, their inner surfaces being substantially flush with the cylindrical edge of the plate delining aperture 40a. The intermediate contact 42 is electrically connected by a conductor, as shown, with the battery or other source of electrical energy. The upper of said contacts, 41 as shown, is connected with the circuit for reversing all of the electric motors while the lowermost stationary contact 43 is electrically connected with the circuit for forwardly operating all of said motors. A small disc, movable` contact member 44 constructed of di-electric material, is journaled within the apertured portion of plate` 40 and has a diametrical slot 44a therethrough for receiving and confining the key bar 17. This disc has inlaid in the peripheral portion thereof, an arcuate metal Spanner contact 44b which is adapted to bridge portions of stationary contacts 41 and 42 or portions of stationary contacts 42 and 43 when the key and consequently, key bar 17 is turned in the opposite direction. To retain the disc 44 in place while permitting rotation thereof and to further insulate the switch, I provide as shown, a pair of cover plates 45 and 46 respectively of similar shape to the contact-carrying plate 40 and preferably having circular apertures therethrough slightly less in diameter than the diameter of the movable contact disc 44. Disc 44 is preferably of the same thickness as plate 40. The plates 40, 45 and 46 are secured together as shown in Fig. 3 with the disc 44 journaled in the center plate and receiving in its slot 44athe key bar 17. The laminated structure described is rigidly held in operative position by a nutted bolt 47 which is secured to the upper portion of flange a of the mounting plate.

The arrangement and spacing of the iixed contacts 41, 42 and 43 and the relation of the slot 44a of the movable contact disc with the inlaid arcuate contact 44b, are such that when the conventional door key of the car is inserted in the key barrel, the electrical circuitsare not affected, but remain open. When the key with the key bar 17 is turned slightly to the right, the spanning contact 44b ing the circuit through the respective windings of the motors, which operates the motors in a direction to turn the larger disc gear 35a in counter-clockwise direction as Viewed in Fig. 4, thereby after limited lost motion, pushing upwardly upon` all of the respective connecting rods 36 to shift the vertical locking plate 2t) downwardly into latch-unlocking position with the abutment channel 20d out of contact with the short abutment arm 16e of the release lever.

Referring now to the dual control circuit which is merely exemplary as shown in Fig. 7, one side of the car battery B is ground to the metal of the frame while the other terminal of the battery is connected in multiple to a pair of locking and unlocking relays L and U respectively. The locking relay L may be energized to close circuits through the locking coils LC of all of the electrical motors M through operation of any one of the master switches DS, PS or IS, as shown in the diagram. Each of said switches are two-way, the switch DS being of the type as illustrated in Fig. 5, key actuated and disposed on the drivers side of the vehiclewhile the twoway switch PS is similar and key-actuated disposed on the passengers side exterior of the vehicle. In each instance, when the key inserted in the lock is turned in a forward rotation, directionally of the exterior of the car, all of the electric motors are instantly operated in the locking circuit to unlock the respective latch mechanisms which they service. When the keys of switches DS and PS are rotated rearwardly directionally of the vehicle, then the coils of the respective motors are energized and the motors instantly operated to lock all of the latch mechanisms of the vehicle. The switch IS is disposed within the interior of the vehicle for accessibility to the driver and may be a tumbler or swingable, two-way switch having `its spaced, fixed contacts properly connected with the respective relays L and U to produce locking or un-` locking revolutions of all of the motors. From the diagram it will be seen that when any one of the master switches DS and IS or PS is operated in one direction from neutral, the locking relay L is energized to close the locking circuits through all of the control motors M, and through the coils LC thereof, where the left and right hand motors turn oppositely but in directions to all pull downwardly upon their respective connecting rods 36. Likewise, when either of said three master switches are thrown in the opposite direction, the unlocking relay U is energized and operated to close the circuit through all of the unlocking coils of the respective power members M, thereby reversing the direction of all motors from that lirst described and causing upward push upon the respective connecting rods 36 to shift the respective vehicle shift bars 20 downwardly into unlocking positions.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that my power door locking system through electrical power operation simultaneously locks and unlocks all of the doors in a door system such as is utilized in motor vehicles and the like. Operations in both directions by my connecting rods 36 and subsequently, the shift locking bars 20,V for all doors are not dependent upon spring bias or solenoid action.

It further will be seen that the doors may all be manually latched, unlatched or locked through the conventional handles, push buttons and pull rods now conventionally utilized while nevertheless regardless of the positioning of push-pull rods at any time, all doors may be power locked or power unlocked through my master switch mechanism and electrical circuits. No change is required in the conventional exterior key barrels and locks to provide for my novel master switches controlled by the conventional key bars at preferably both the drivers side and the passengers side of the vehicle.

I prefer to provide master switches of my novel design associated with each of the key locks on drivers and espansa passengers, side. of. the. vehicle, together with an inside dri-vers switch: for instantly power, locking. all. doorsf. from within the. vehicle. Such. interior control of. power lockf ing, prevents. possibleV opening. ofV doors during, travel around. curves and furthermore, provides a; measure, of safety against, hold.upsV or forcible; entrance. of. doors by robbers or other criminals at intersectionsand.stoplights There havebeen. many instances recently where-robbery on forcible possession of automobiles wasl accomplished through entry of an unlocked automobile at. stop signals or other places where acar was required tostop. int-ravel. ,Y While, the. system as electrically connectectin. the.. cir.- cuit of Figi. 7 provides. for simultaneous.. lockingiand unlocking. of all. car` doorsy from any one. of the three master switches, it will of course. beunderstoodthatvariations may be madewith the same apparatus, if desired suchx for example having; the external key. lock for one of'. the. front, doors. control7 only power locking of all doors whilethe key lock. at the. opposite sideof.V the. car may control power unlocking only of all doors.` Y It will further be. seen. that'. with my' system, all; the. electrical mechanisms and' componentsv utilized are; nor.- mally deenergized, thus. preventing; drain-upon thevehicle, battery and nevertheless, if the'y battery is dead, any and all. doorsV may be. manually. locked and unlocked in, the. conventional. manner utilized at present inmotor vehicles..

It will of course, be understoodI thaty various. changes. maybe made inthe form, details, arrangementy and pro.- portions of the. parts. without. departing, from, the scope oi my invention.` What Iclaimis: Y Y .Y

l.. A power locking system. for the.x conventional latch. mechanisms of a plurality'of doorsgsaidlatch mechanisms.` being of the' type used in the, doors of, motor vehicles and each. of. which includes a` latch, release means and-a slidable, abutment element for immobilizing and locking said conventional release means, said'A power locking system. comprising for each of. said latch. mechanisms` a; single. reversible. rotary electrical. motor said, motor having associated; therewith p.owertake.oil mechanism shitable from one position.. to` another during: forward operation oi said motor and reshiftablefrom the `second to. therst position upon reversal operations ofi. themotor. and, longitudinally movablemechanical-v connection. means between said power-take-otl. mechanism and1 the slidable. abutment element of one of. said latch mechanisms and said system. including a dual electr-icalcircuitrcommonf to. all of said motors and. including atwo-way'master switch removed from said motors and key-operatedexternally of one of said doors andk operative when moved. in. one di: rection to electrically connect. all. of. said. motorsr tomomentarily causev operation thereof` in.- one direction thereby substantially simultaneously shifting the said abutment elements of all of said latches to the immobilizing or locking. positions thereof, andwhen` said switch is. moved. in another direction,. to. electrically connect allof saidv motors. tov momentarily operate the same. in a reverse, direction, thereby shifting. the. saidZ abutment elements to'release position, said. switchbeingbuiltaround the conventional external key-operated lock and release mechanism of an automotive door andA including-as, one of' its elements the inwardly extending key-operated.bar

soy

. against retraction,.manually controlledV means for releasr ing, said, holding means to` enable thedoor toV bev opened, and, a slidable. locking element for immohilizing said release meanswhen shifted toflfocking position, saidy power locking. system comprising for each` of. said latch1 mechanisms,y a single, reversible: electrical` motor having, asso.- ciatedv therewith. power-takefoi. mechanism shiftable from one position. to. another during forward operation of said motor and. reshitable from. the secondtol the Yfirst posi.` tion upon. reverse operationy of said. motor. and longitudinally movable mechanicaL connection means between each.. of said; power-take-o mechanisms and itsasso@ ciated slidable locking element. of a latchl mechanism, said system. including a dual electricalz circuitl commonl to all of said motors and a, Lwo-way master switch re movedfrorn said. motors.. and. built around, the conventional external key-operatedY lock andy releasefmechanism of. the.` said door and including as. one ofV its elements the; inwardly extending key-operated barv thereo andfurther comprising a rotar-y contact element affixed. to said: bar. and. a. stationary contact-carrying; element sure rounding said rotary contact element andhaving internal. circumferentially spaced. contacts, thereon, whereby when said bar. i'skey-turnedin one. direction, all. of saidmotor-s; are.y momentarily energized to cause operation thereon in one, direction, and when said. bar4 skey-turned in. the opposite; drcctiom said motors, are energized tofmomentarily operate ina reverse direction..

5.. The, structure set forth; in. claim 2. whereinsaid`r rotary contact` element is in the form of a. small. disc nonrrotatably, connected with said key=operated1 bar and; having. a. conductive, peripherah sector and wherein said stationary contact-carrying element comprises an` an.` nular body of dielectric material surrounding:` said. disc,- and having. three circumferentiallyI spaced. conductive contacts internally thereof..

References Cited inthe tile oithis, patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

